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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



FRENCH GENDERS 



RULES AND EXCEPTIONS 



COMPILED BY 

ROBERT GRIMSHAW, Ph.D. 

AUTHOR OF GERMAN GENDERS 



o^o 



NEW YORK 

BEENTANO'S 
1902 



THE LIBRARY «F 

GONGRr. 
Two Coffee Receive* 

APR. t5 1902 

^OOPYRtaHT eNTRY 

CL^SS ft/XXa Wo. 



*2~ th 
COPY 



Copyright, 1902 
By BKENTANO'S 



.81 



\ 



EMILE LOMBAKD, Ph.D., 
Professor in the Lycee Montaigne, Paris, 

Founder and President of the Society for International 
Studies and Correspondence. 



PREFACE. 



One of the principal difficulties in learning certain 
foreign languages is that caused by the " artificial " 
or " arbitrary " genders — that is, that which is as- 
signed the nouns, sometimes for evident cause, some- 
times without apparent reason, and again with no 
real reason, and indeed, absurdly. The child who 
acquires his mother tongue gradually, by imitation 
and absorption, as it were, has but little difficulty in 
remembering the gender of a given noun ; to the 
adult, however, these artificial genders are a stum- 
bling-block. In German, which has three genders, 
the matter at first seems much more difficult than in 
French ; but when we come to consider that in French 
every object of neuter, or name of a living being of 
so-called " common " gender, must be used with either 
a masculine or a feminine article, the task of deter- 
mining is really more difficult. Magyar or Hunga- 
rian — in other respects a most difficult language — 
is in this particular a fortunate exception, as there is 
but one gender — or none at all. 

7 



8 



PREFACE 



The following rules, partly based on some more 
or less thorough and more or less scattered, pre- 
viously published, and partly new and original, cover 
about all nouns likely to be used or met with by the 
average well-educated person. 



CONTENTS. 



Formation of the Masculine : 

PAGE 

According to Sense ....... 9 

According to Affixes 10 

According to Termination , .... 10 

Formation of the Feminine : 

According to Sense 12 

According to Termination 12 

Exceptions to the Rules (classified) .... 14 

Nouns of doubtful Gender (grouped according to Gender. 

and alphabetically arranged) . . . - . . 21 

Nouns the Gender of which depends on their meaning . 24 

Words having two Feminine Forms (alphabetically- 
arranged) 30 

Alphabetical Classification of the Principal Group 

Members 31 

Names of Cities . . . . . , . . 32 

Irregular Formation of the Feminine .... 32 

9 



FRENCH GENDERS. 



MASCULINE ARE 

A. — According to sense: 

1. All names of male living beings (17 exceptions) 

and of imaginary beings which we are accus- 
tomed to consider as masculine. 

2. Names of occupations, even if carried on by fe- 

males. 

3. The various parts of speech taken substantively. 

4. Compounds of a verb and a noun (four excep- 

tions). 

5. Names of winds (two exceptions), mountains 

(six exceptions), days of the month, months, 
dates, seasons, cardinal points, languages, 
metals and semi-metals, trees, bushes, shrubs. 

6. All letters of the alphabet, except /, h, i, m, n, 

r, s. 1 

7. Most names of states, empires, kingdoms, and 

provinces, not ending in e mute ; also Mexiqae, 
Lancastve. 

8. Most names of cities, except those preceded by 

1 Most recent grammarians make all the letters masculine ex- 
cept h, to which they give both genders. 



10 FRENCH GENDERS 

la or ending in e mute, 1 or those derived from 
the Latin, where the usage is sanctioned by 
historians. (See list, page 32). (Where 
used in apostrophe, they are generally fem- 
inine.) 

B. — According to affixes : 

9. Words commencing with mi, not followed by a 

hyphen. 

Names of inanimate objects ending in : 

10. -e not after t (5 exceptions). 2 

11. -on not after i or ais (17 exceptions) 

12. -ite and -ate on names of chemical compounds, 

and -ite or -lithe on names of minerals. 

13. Any letter except e, n, or r. 

(a) Without exceptions, b, c, d, g, h, j, 7c, /, p, q, 

v, y, z. 

(b) With few exceptions, a (8), / (3), i (6), m 

(l),n (3%o (l),f(B*),« (8),* (18),* 
(5), x (9). 

14. Following suffixes : 

(a) Without exceptions : -oble, -euble ; -oibre, 

1 But masculine when preceded by tout : * ' Tout Ronie f ut 
brule." 

2 One of these is cle, shortened form of clef. 
8 Exceptions are not preceded by o. 

4 Exceptions are not preceded by eu. 



FRENCH GENDERS 11 

—ibre, —obre; —arbre, —orbe, -embre; —amble, 
—emble, —omble ; -adre, -edre, -idre ; —or- 
dre, -indre, —asme, -isme, -isthme, —itlime, 
-ytlime ; -ocre, -ucre, —ulcre ; -ecle, -ode, 
-ycle, -oncle, —uscle, -ercle ; —ede ; —uge, 
-agme, -egme, -ogme, -ygme ; -ome, 
—emme, -yme ; -omphe, -yplie, -aplite, 
-aphthe ; -autre, -entre, -intre, -eutre, 
—litre, -avrc 9 -anvre, -oivre ; -eurre ; 
-eure ; -ampre, -amphre, -usque, -alque, 
-irque, -uste, -estre, -istre, -ustre ; -atre, 
—eurtre, —ertre, —yrte ; -aitre, -oitre, —exte ; 
—epte, —eptre; -if re, —iffre, —oufre, -ouf- 
fre ; -of re, -uffle, -ouffle ; -yle, -iple, 
-ople, -uple, -euple, -emple ; -oxe, -uxe ; 
—omte, —ompte ; -ypse, -ype, —igre, —egne. 
(b) With exceptions : -abe (2), -obe (2), -ube 
(1), -able (3), -ible (2),-erbe (2), -ambre 
(2), -ombre (2), —wore (2 s ), -anvre (1), 
—acle (3), —ide (10), -age (10), -ege (2), 
—ige (3), -oge (3), -alte (1), -angre (1), 
—igme (1), -aume (1), -erne (5), -aphe 
(3), -ivre (1), -are (8), -ire (3), -yre (1), 
-ore (3), -aire (12), -ourpre (1), -asque 
(4), -isque (3), -aste (2), -este (3), -iste 
(3), -astre (1), -etre (2), -itre. (5), -off re 
(1), -oufle (2), -He (12), -ule (17), -ice 
(16), -oce (1), -ogne (6). Total, 169. 



12 FRENCH GENDERS 

FEMININE ARE 

A. — According to sense: 

15. Abstract nouns in -ion, -aire, -age, and -iste, 

with some exceptions. 

16. Names expressing female beings. 

17. Names of virtues and qualities. 

18. Words with prefix mi-, followed by a hyphen. 

(No exceptions.) 

B. — According to termination. Names of inanimate 

objects ending in : 

19. -te (12 exceptions). 

20. -ion (17 exceptions 1 ). 

21. -aison (no exceptions). 

22. -eur (18 exceptions 2 ). 

23. -ique (25 exceptions). 

24. -eve (27 exceptions). 

25. -iere (3 exceptions). 

26. -oire (32 exceptions). 

27. Following suffixes, all having exceptions, the 

number of which is noted in each case, in 
parentheses : -ace (2), -ece (1), -ance (1), 
-euce (1), -once (1), —once (1), -erce (1), -orce 



1 One of these is a set of words (million, billion, etc.). 

2 Four of these are names of professions and are masculine, 
even though the profession is carried on by a woman. (See 
Rule 2.) 



FRENCH GENDERS 13 

(1), -ache (1), -ache (1), -eche (2), -iche (3), 

oclie (3), -anche (2), -ouche (2), -erche (1), 

-orche (1), -ade (6), -o^e (6), -ude (1), —ande 

(1), -eWO^ (1), -OWO'e (1) ? -Cmo'e (1), -o?^e (2), 

-ee (19), -ebe (1), -ebre (2), -erbe (3), -ombe 
(1), -imbre (1), -onble (4), -a/re (1), -off re 
(1), -an/e (1), -er^e (2), -a?^e (1), -agrw (1), 
-^we (1), -ergne (2), -orgue (1), -ague (3), 
— igwe (1), -igwe (3), -ogne (1), -eigne (1), 
-ygwe (1), -aw^e (7), -m^e (2), -<m#e (2), 
-o^e (2), -a^re (1), -aigre (1), -ongre (1), 
-ougre (1), -a/e (1), -ie (9), — oie (1), -o/ce (1), 
-aZe (8), -a7e (3), -eZe (4), -e/e (2), -ole (5), 
-aZZe (1) ? -eZ/e (6), -^7Ze (5), -wZZe (1), -aide 
(1), -<n7e (1), -owZe (1), -erle (1), -e/Ze (1), 
-ieZe (2), -eigle (1), -ame (5), -ime (7), -^me 
(7), -amine (1), -omme (1), -alme (1), -arme 
(1), -orme (3), -awe (10), -awe (2), -e^e (8), 
-ewe (2), -enne (1), -me (2), -ame (2), -aune 
(2), -enne (1), -ome (3), -erae (4), -ame (3), 
-time (1), -ymne (1), -omne (1), -aspe (1), 
-ipe (2), -epe (1), -ope (4), -owpe (1), -aque 
(6), -oawe (5), -anque (1), -arre (4), -erre (7), 
-orre (1), -we (5), -ase (5), -ese (4) ? -eze (1), 
-ise (1), -ese (1), -asse (1), -isse (2), -oss-e (2), 
-aise (1), -orse (2), -a£e (6), 1 -aite (1), -e£e 
(3), -ite (12)/ -&Ae (l), 1 -o£e (3), -ute (I), 

1 Besides those excepted by Rule 12. 



14 FRENCH GENDERS 

-ette (3), -ante (1), -anthe (1), -inthe (2), 
-ente (1), -onte (2), -ontre (2), -onstre (1), 
-<w£0 (1), -outre (2), -wZzte (2), -aitre (1), 
-2/r£e (1), -or£e (1), -ostfe (1), -acta (3), -ecte 
(2),-ectre (l),-ave (1), -eve (1), -ive (1), 
-?w<3 (1), -awe (1), -auve (1), -euve (1), 
-ceuvre (3), -ievre (2), -a#e (1). Total, 373. 
28. Abstract nouns in -ion, -te, and -eur. 



EXCEPTIONS TO THE EULES. 
FEMININE ARE 

RULE 

I. Sentinelle, 1 vedette, 1 clarinette, 1 estafette, 1 or- 

donnanee, 1 majeste, 2 saintete, 2 seigneurie, 1 al- 
tesse, 1 Eminence, 1 excellence/ personne, vic- 
time, bSte, 1 ganache, 1 brute, 1 dupe. 

5. bise, tramontaine, les Alpes, les Pyrenees, les 
Cordilleres, les Cevennes, les Yosges, les 
Andes. 

9. Amitie, inimitie, moitie, pitie, cle. 8 

II. Boisson, foison, legon, prison, chanson, fa^on, 

contrefa^on, moisson, rangon, cloison, garni- 
son, pamoison, toison, cuisson, guerison, tra- 
hison, mousson. 

i Follows Rule 27. 2 Follows Rule 17. 

8 Shortened form of clef. . 



FRENCH GENDERS 15 

13b. a. Polka, mazurka, s6pia, villa, veranda, tom- 
bola, razzia. 

f . Clef, soif , nef . 

i. Foi, loi, paroi, merci, 1 apr&s-midi. 2 

m. Eaim. 

n. Fin, main, 8 la Saint- Jean. 4 

0. La Quasimodo. 4 

r. duller (= cuillere) mer, chair, cour, tour. 1 

s. Brebis, souris, 1 chauve-souris, vis, fleur-de- 
lis, 5 amaryllis, fois. 

t. Dent, gent, jument, hart, part, plupart, 
quote-part, nuit, 7 mort, 1 foret, 6 dot, la 
Toussaint, 4 mi-aout. 7 

u. Glu, tribu, vertu, eau, peau. 

x. Croix, noix, poix, voix, toux, chaux, faux, 1 
paix, perdrix. 
146. Syllabe, 8 Souabe ; robe, garde-robe ; bube ; 
table, fable, Stable ; ^cible, bible, gerbe, 
herbe ; chambre, anti-chambre ; ombre, 1 
penombre ; nacre, polacre ; ancre ; debacle, 

i Has two genders. 2 Although midi is masculine. 

3 Although appuie-main and essuie-main are masculine because 
of rule 4. 

4 Because the feminine word fete is understood. 

5 Because fleur is feminine. 

6 Foret without accent is masculine. 

7 Because of Rule 18, although the main word is masculine. 

8 Although its derivations monosyllabe, etc., are masculine ac- 
cording to the rule. 



16 FRENCH GENDERS 

r&cle, made; bride, cantharide, ride, he- 
morroide, 1 bastide, cariatide, carotide, py- 
ramide, egide, ide, 1 guide ; * ambage, 1 
image, page, rage, cage, nage, plage, passe- 
rage, saxifrage, hypallage ; allege ; Nor- 
vege ; tige, volige, voltige, horloge, loge, 
toge ; halte, sangle, enigme, paume, crime, 
breme, trireme, mi-car§me, 2 ferine, epi- 
graphe, epitaphe, ortographe ; livre ; fan- 
fare, gabare, gare, guitare, mare, cithare, 
tare, tiare; cire, satire, tire-lire 8 ; lyre; 
aurore, pecore, metaphor e ; affaire, chaire, 
glaire, haire, aire, grammaire, jugulaire, 
paire, molaire, circulaire, judiciaire, vinaire ; 
pourpre 4 ; basque, frasque, vasque, bour- 
rasque ; bisque, brisque, f rancisque ; haste, 
caste ; peste, veste, sieste ; batiste, liste, 
piste ; piastre ; gu§tre, fenetre ; huitre, 
vitre, epitre, mitre, litre 4 ; off re ; pan- 
touffle, mouffle ; bile, locomobile, argile, 
vigile, file, ile, huile, presq'ile, pile, tuile, 
sibile, Sicile ; fteule, pellicule, majuscule, 
miniscule, canicule, matricule, molecule, 
particule, amandibule, ollicule, bascule, 

1 Mostly in the plural. 

2 Because of Rule 18, although the main word is masculine. 
8 Also one of the four exceptions to Rule 4. 

4 Has two genders. 



FRENCH GENDERS 11 

clavicule,renoncule, vesicule, mule, pendule, 
globule ; feuille ; lice, silice, malice, varice, 
avarice, 6pice, premice, 1 delice, 1 police, 
justice, injustice, notice, immondice, cica- 
trice, office 2 ; noce ; drogue, 6glogue, pi- 
rogue, vogue, synagogue ; zone. 

MASCULINE ARE 

RULE 

19. Ete, cote, pate, comte, arrete, traite, comite, 

aparte, jet6, benedicite, precipite, veloute. 

20. Croupion, scorpion, lampion, bastion, pion, 

scion, million (and the others of the series), 
galion, gabion, talion, camion, gavion, sep- 
tentrion, brimborion, ganglion, taudion, fanion. 

22. Cceur, choeur, heur, 3 bonheur, malheur, pleur, 1 

honneur, deshonneur, labeur, interieur, ex- 
t6rieur, equateur, secateur, regulateur, ven- 
tilateur, chou-fleur, multiplicateur, denomina- 
teur, professeur, 4 compositeur, 4 auteur, 4 ama- 
teur. 4 

23. Pique, 2 tique, distique, antique, physique, 

topique, cantique, narcotique, calorique,-pan£- 
gyrique, tropique, portique, cosm^tique, causti- 

1 Mostly in the plural. 2 Has two genders. 

3 Only used in phrase: "II n'y a qu'heur et malheur dans ce 
monde." 

4 Because name of a profession. 



18 TRENCH GENDERS 

que, tonique, pique-nique, viatique, elastique, 
encaustique, tragique, le Mexique, ^metique, 
moustique, graphique, specifique. 

24. Cratere, ministere, stere, repere, madere, 1 quad- 
rilatere, caut&re, monaster e, visc&re, reverb^re, 
planisph&re, caract&re, myst&re, peript^re, 
presbyt&re, soporif&re, calorif&re, adult&re, 
debarcad&re, hemisphere, somnifere, mammi- 
fere, ulcere, ernbarcadere, belvedere, cerbere, 
clystere., 

25c Cimetiere, arriere, derriere. 

26. Boire, territoire, refectoire, r^quisitoire, offer- 

toire, compulsoire, ciboire, vomitoire, promon- 
toire, accessoire, conservatoire, pourboire, 
auditoire, observatoire, grimoire, propitiatoire, 
interrogatoire, deboire, directoire, consistoire, 
laboratoire, invitatoire, repertoire, pr^toire, 
vesicatoire, memoire, purificatoire, purgatoire, 
oratoire, promontoire, ivoire, interlocutoire, 
and all infinitives taken substantively. 2 

27. Bourgogne, 8 peigne, cygne ; lange, change, 

^change, ange, melange, losange, Gange ; 
singe, linge ; songe, mensonge ; bouge, rouge 2 ; 
onagre, vinaigre, 4 congre; porte-monnaie, 5 

1 " Yin " is understood. 2 Because of Rule 3. 

3 A province. 4 Because formed from " vin." 

6 Because of Rule 4. 



FRENCH GENDERS 19 

Pavie, amphibie, parapluie, parhelie, p6ri- 
helie, incendie, genie, Messie, 1 bain-marie 2 ; 
foie ; coke ; ovale, d£dale, Bengale, 3 ac6phale, 
p6tale, scandale, crotale, chrysocale ; halo, 
chalo-ralo ; z&le, paralleled modele, 6rysipele ; 
poele, 4 pele-mele; monopole, alveole, proto- 
cole, symbole ; intervalle, libelle, polichinelle, 6 
Isabelle, vermicelle, rebelle, 5 spinelle ; mille, 
codicille, calville, vaudeville, quadrille ; tulle ; 
saule, voile 4 ; moule 4 ; mule; trefle; article; 
siecle ; seigle ; drame, m^lodrame, dictame, 
hippopotame, blame ; crime, mime, abime, 
sublime, centime, decime, mill^sime ; rhume, 
volume, costume, legume, bitume, essuie- 
plume, 6 porte-plume 6 ; amme, somme 4 ; calme ; 
charme, vacarme ; orme, uniforme, chloro- 
forme ; plane, filigrane, lucane, arcane, organe, 
lantane, titane, platane; ane, coq-a-Pane, 2 
cr&ne, mane 7 ; ebene, oxygene, hydrogene, 
phenomene, nitrogene, molybdene, Boristhene, 
chene, frene ; renne ; quine, platine 4 ; Maine, 
domaine ; jaune, 8 aune 4 ; jeune, peritoine, 
antimoine, patrimoine ; terne, verne, alaterne, 

i Rule l. 

2 Takes gender of its principal word. 

3 A province. 4 Has two genders, 

5 Represents the occupation of a male living oeing, Rule 2. 

6 Because of Rule 4. 7 Mostly in the plural. 
8 Because of Rule 3. 



20 FRENCH GENDERS 

sterne ; morne, tricorne, capricorne ; cothurne, 
hynme, 1 automne 2 ; jaspe ; principe, parti- 
cipe; crepe/ telescope, microscope, trope, 
heliotrope 1 ; groupe, braque, cloaque, zodia- 
que, claque, 1 maraque ; phoque, colloque, soli- 
loque, Equivoque, locque 3 ; manque; cigarre, 
tintamarre, becarre, catarrhe ; verre, cimeterre, 
lierre, tonnerre, pied-a-terre, 4 paratonnerre ; 
Begoire, augure, par jure, murmure, mercure, 
tellure; vase, 1 Caucase, 5 Pegase, 6 gymnase, 
ukase ; diocese, diese, manganese, Peloponese ; 
m61eze; cytise, rose, Parnasse, Narcisse, 6 
reglisse; colosse, carrosse; malaise; torse, 
morse ; Euphrate, automate, stigmate, aro- 
mate, chemical compounds in ate 7 ; faite ; 
casse-t$te, 8 serre-tete, 8 tete-a-t§te; gite, gra- 
phite, 7 m^rite, demerite, plebiscite, satellite, 7 
lignite, site, rite, sorite, hermite 9 ; zoolithe, 
aerolithe, monolithe 7 ; vote, antidote, azote, 
tire-botte 8 ; parachute ; squelette ; amulette, 
porte-manchettes 8 ; adianthe, amianthe, laby- 
rinthe, t6r6binthe, le trente 2 ; conte, masto- 
donte ; le pour et le contre ; porte-montre, 8 

1 Has two genders. 2 Rule 5. 

3 Mostly in the plural. 

4 Takes gender of its principal word. 

5 A province. 6 Rule 1. ? Rule 12. 

8 Because of Rule 4. 

9 Represents the occupation of a male being, Rule 2. 



FRENCH GENDERS 21 

monstre ; cloute ; coutre, loutre x ; culte, tu- 
multe; tartre ; myrte, cloporte ; poste 1 ; acte, 
entr'acte, pacte ; dialecte, insecte ; spectre ; 
conclave, reve, le qui-vive ; Vesuve; glaive; 
mauve ; flenve ; oeuvre, hors-d'oeuvre, chef- 
d'oeuvre ; lievre, genievre, axe. 



NOUNS OP DOUBTFUL GENDEB. 

The gender of most of the following nouns is that 
given by the French Academy ; but the classification 
is disputed by many good authorities, or does not 
agree with common usage. Those marked (l) are on 
the authority of Larousse. 

MASCULINE ARE 

Abr6ge, abime, acabit, accessoire, accotoir, acier, 
acrostiche, acte, adage, adepte, affinage, age, aigle, 
ail, air (l), ais, alambre, albatre, alveole, amadis, 
amadou, amalgame, ambre, amicante (l), amidon, 
amphigouri, anatheme, anchois, ancile, aneurisme, 
angar, animalcule, anniversaire, antidote, antipode, 
antre, apanage, apologue, appareil, apres-diner (l), 
apres-midi (l), apres-souper (l), aqueduc, arc, ar- 
cane (l), argent (l), armistice, arrosoir, article, arti- 
fice, as, asile, aspic, assassin, ast^risque, asthme, 

i Has two genders. 



22 FRENCH GENDERS 

at6me, §,tre, attelage, auditoire, augure, aunage, au- 
spice (l), autel, automate, automne (l), balustre (l), 
bouge, carrosse, centime, caique, cigare, cloporte (l) 
concombre, crabe, decombres, d61ice, dialecte, echange, 
echantillon, 6chaud6, echec, eclair, edredon, elixir, 
ellebore, 61oge (l), embargo, embleme, ^metique, em- 
platre, empois, encensoir, encombre, encrier, enthou- 
siasme, entonnoir, entr'acte, entre-cote, entre-sol, 6pi, 
Epilogue (l), £phem6rides, ^piderme, episode, 6pi- 
thalame, Epitome, equilibre, equinoxe, eresipele (l), 
ermitage, erysipele, escompte, esclandre, essaim, 
estaminet, 6tal, ete, eteignoir, evangile, 6v§che, 
eventail, eventaire, exemple, exercice, exil, exorde, 
flair, girofle, guet, hame^on, hanneton, heliotrope (l), 
hemisphere, hemistiche, heritage, hieroglyphe, holo- 
causte, hopital, horizon, horoscope, hospice, hotel, 
hourvari, hymenee (l), hymne, incendie, inceste, in- 
dice, insecte, interligne (l), intermede, interstice, 
intervalle, inventaire, isthme, ivoire, legume, leurre, 
limbe (l), losange (l), Manes, midi (l), ministre, 
minuit, monosyllable, monticule, narcisse, obilisque, 
observatoire, obstacle, obus (l), oing, olympe, om- 
brage, omnibus, ongle, onguent, opium, opprobre, 
opuscule, orage, oratoire, orbe (l), orchestre, organe, 
orgue, orgueil, orifice, orteil, otage, oubli, outrage, 
ouvrage, ovale, pampre, parallele, parafe or paraphe, 
pecule, pendule, petale, pleurs, preparatif, preside 
(l), prestiges, quadrige, quine (l), renne, rebours (l), 



FRENCH GENDERS 23 

risque, salamalec, sarigue, simple, squelette, stade, 
tertre, tubercule, ulcere, ultimatum, uniforme, us, 
ustensile, vampire, vivres, vestige. 

FEMININE ARE 

Absinthe, accolade, acre, agrafe, aire, alarme, al- 
cove, algarade, amnistie, amorce, amulette (l), ana- 
gramme, analyse, ancre, angoisse, anicroehe, ankylose, 
antichambre, apotheose, apres-diner, apres-midi, apres- 
souper, arabesques, argile, armoire, arrhes, artere, 
astuce, atmosphere, attache, aubade, avalanche, ava- 
loire, avant-scene, avarie, caroube (l), courroie, de- 
lices, dinde (l), drachme (l), ebene, ecarlate, echappa- 
toire, echappee, echarde, echo (nymphe), ecritoire, 
ecumoire, effigie, eglogue, embuscade, enclume, en- 
dosse, enquete, entraves, epee, ephemerides, epidemie, 
epigramme, epigraphe, epitaphe, epithete, equerre, 
equivoque, ere, erreur, espace, esquisse, estampille, 
estampe, etable, etape, etude, extase, fibre, finale, 
fourmi (l), gemme (l), horloge, hortensia, huile, 
hydre, hyperbate, hyperbole, hypotheque, idole, idylle, 
image, immondice (l), impasse, imperiale, insulte, 
issue, jujube, laideron, limite, losange, mesange, nacre, 
oasis (l), obseque, ocre, ode, offre, oie, omoplate, 
onglee, opale, ophtalmie, optique, orbite (l), orfraie, 
orgie, oriflamme, ouate, ouie, outarde, outre, paroi, 
parvis, patere (l), pecune, pedale, premisses, prime- 
vere, reglisse, salamandre, sandaraque, sentinelle, 



24 



FRENCH GENDERS 



spirale, stalle, tare, tenebres, theriaque, tige, tous- 
saint, tuileries, urbanite, urne, usine, usure, varice 
(l) ? vip&re. 



NOUNS THE GENDER OE WHICH DEPENDS 
UPON THEIE MEANING. 



MASCULINE. 

Aide, one who assists (in speak- 
ing of a male). 

Aigle, 1. eagle (bird); 2. a man 
of surprising genius ; 3. read- 
ing-desk in form of an eagle ; 
4. employed proverbially; 5. 
a size of paper. 

Amour, 1. love, as of play ; 2. 
love of one sex for another; 
3. Amor, or his image. 

Amours, love, as of play. 



Automne, 1. autumn in general 
(was originally feminine, but 
is now considered as mascu- 
line, like the three other sea- 
sons.) 

Apres-midi, when speaking of 
any part of the afternoon. 

Aune, elder-bush. 

Autre-chose, (see Quelque 
chose). 



FEMININE. 

Aide, 1. help, assistance; 2. 

one who aids (speaking of a 

female). 
Aigle, 1. in armorial devices ; 

2. a military standard. 



Amours, love of one sex for 
another, particularly, tran- 
sient or not very deep passion. 

Automne, 1. Autumn in gen- 
eral ; 2. in poetry, where re- 
ferred to as. causing revery. 



Apres-midi, when speaking of 

the whole afternoon. 
Aune, ell (ancient measure). 



FRENCH GENDERS 



25 



MASCULINE. 

Barbe, Barbary horse. 
Bourgogne, the wine. 
Cartouche, ornament. 
Champagne, the wine. 
Claque, spring hat. 
Coche, 1. a coach ; 2. a boat. 
Cornette, a standard-bearer. 

Couleur, when combined with 
a specific word ; as un beau 
couleur defeu. 

Couple, 1. two animate beings 
united voluntarily, acting in 
concert ; 2. a married couple, 
or two mated lower animals. 

Crepe, mourning goods. 

Critique, critic. 

D61ice, 

Echo, 1. repeated sound ; 2. 
one who repeats. 

Enfant, in general sense of 
child. 

Enseigne, officer. 



FEMIXIXE. 

Barbe, beard. 
Bourgogne, the country. 
Cartouche, cartridge. 
Champagne, the country. 
Claque, a slap in the face. 
Coche, 1. a notch; 2. a sow. 
Cornette, cavalry or navy stan- 
dard. 
Couleur, in general sense. 



Couple, two. 



Crepe, kind of cake. 

Critique, criticism. 

Devices, 

Echo, the nymph. 

Enfant, female child. 



Espace, indefinite 
time, immensity. 
Faux, a forgery. 
Finale, at end of a symphony. 

Foudre, 1. a surprising orator 
or irresistible warrior ; 2. in 
poetry, cannon. 

Fourbe, deceiver. 



Enseigne, 1. flag; 2. sign or 
sign-board, 
space or Espace, a space in type-setting. 



Faux, a scythe, 

Finale, last syllable or letter or 

a word. 
Foudre, lightning. 



Fourbe, deception. 



26 



FRENCH GENDERS 



MASCULINE. 

Garde, 1. guardian; 2. soldier 
on guard. 



Gens takes masculine adjec- 
tives either before or after 
it. 



Grand* chose, see Quelque chose. 
Greffe, place where documents 

are kept. 
Guide, 1. one who guides; 2. 

model. 
H&iotrope, the sunflower. 

Hymne, in non-sacred sense ; 

as hymne national. 
Jujube, the jujube fruit. 
Laque, lac ; varnish. 
Loutre, a fur hat. 



FEMININE. 

Garde, 1. action of guarding; 
2. troops charged with guard- 
ing ; 3. protection ; 4. female 
sick-nurse. 

Gens takes feminine adjective 
or participle before it when 
at the same time there are 
adjectives or participles after 
it in the masculine, as: les 
vielles gens sont soupqon- 



Greffe, 1. grafting; 2. result of 

this act. 
Guide(s), driving-reins. 

Heliotrope, kind of precious 

stone. 
Hymne, Latin or Greek sacred 

hymn. 
Jujube, jujube paste. 
Laque, an Indian gum. 
Loutre, otter. 



1 (a) But if the masculine form of the immediately preceding 
adjective ends in e mute the other preceding adjectives or parti- 
ciples remain masculine, as: Tous les braves gens, (b) Adjectives 
and participles preceding gens and not belonging to the same 
phrase or part of phrase, remain masculine, (c) All its modifying 
words are masculine plural, (1) if it is followed by de and a noun 
designating profession ; as, gens de guerre ; (2) when said of per- 
sons forming part of a promenade, festivity, etc., as, tous nos gens 
sont arrives, faites servir le diner. 



FRENCH GENDERS 



27 



MASCULINE. 

Livre, book. 

Blanche, handle. 

Manoeuvre, workman. 

Me'moire(s), 1. memorandum 
of money due, or of facts 
in a law suit ; 2. scientific 
or literary dissertation ; 3. 
(plural only) recital of per- 
sonal experiences ; memoirs. 

Merci, thanks. 

Mode, 1. form, method; 2. key 
in musical composition. 

Mort, a corpse. 

Moufle, muffle. 

Moule, mould. 

Mousse, sailor apprentice. 

(Euvre, 1. work (sing, only, in 
sustained style) ; 2. (both 
sing, and pi.) collected works 
of an engraver or musician ; 
3. in le grand oeuvre (the phi- 
losopher's stone). 

Office, 1. religious service; 2. 
in le Saint Office, the Holy 
Inquisition. 

Ombre, 1. umber (kind of fish) 
2. game of cards. 

Orge, in orge monde and orge 
perle. 

Orgue, organ (musical inst.). 

Page, page, as at court. 



FEMININE. 

Livre, pound (weight or 
money). 

Manche, sleeve. 

Manoeuvre, manoeuvre. 

MSmoire, 1. memory ; 2. post- 
humous reputation. 



Merci, mercy. 

Mode(s), 1. fashion; 2. (plural 

only) women's headgear. 
Mort, death. 
Moufle, 1. set of pulleys; 2. 

mitten. 
Moule, mussel. 
Mousse, 1. moss ; 2. scum. 
(Euvre, work, production of the 

mind. 



Office, butlery. 



; Ombre, 1. shade, ghost ; 2. 
shadow. 
Orge, barley in general. 

Orgues, organs, in plural only. 
Page, page, as of a book. 



28 



FRENCH GENDERS 



MASCULINE. 

Paillasse, thresher whose duty- 
it is to imitate awkwardly 
his companion's movements. 

Palme, palm measure. 

Paque, Paques, the Christian 
Easter. 



P6riode, 1. indeterminate space 
of time; 2. the highest point 
which a person or thing can 
attain. 

Personne, (pronoun) 1. (with 
negation) nobody: Personne 
ne sera assez hardi; 2. (with- 
out negation), somebody ; 
Y a-t-il personne assez har- 
di f 

Physique, physique ; natural 
physical constitution. 

Pique, a spade at cards. 

Pivoine, gnat-snapper (kind of 
red-throated bird). 

Platine, platinum. 

Poele, 1. stove; 2. pall; 3. 
canopy. 

Ponte, term in card-playing. 

Poste, 1. post, as of a soldier; 
2. function, employment, 
position. 



FEMININE. 

Paillasse, straw mattress. 



Palme, 1. palm tree or branch; 

2. prize. 
Paque (has no plural) Jewish 

Pascal feast. 
Paques, in expressions : Paques 

closes, Paques fleuries; de 

bonnes Paques, a good Easter 

communion. 
Periode, in astronomy, music, 

grammar, and medicine. 



Personne, 1. (noun) in precise 
sense : une personne bien in- 
struite; 2. (pronoun) when 
evidently applied to a female. 



Physique, physics. 

Pique, a pike. 

Pivoine, peony plant or flower. 

Platine, metal plate. 
Poele, frying-pan. 

Ponte, egg-laying. 
Poste, 1. postal administra- 
tion; 2. post-office. 



FRENCH GENDERS 



29 



MASCULINE. 

Pourpre, 1. purple color ; 2. 
disease called the purples. 



PrStexte, pretext. 

Quiconque, same rules as for 

personne. 
Quelque chose, as a generality. 

Reglisse, licorice (material). 

Relache, 1. interruption in 
work; 2. repose; 3. suspen- 
sion of theatrical representa- 
tions. 

Remise, hired carriage. 



Satyre, satyr. 

Scolie, geometrical scholium. 

Solde, balance due; 2. lot of 

goods sold at one time. 
Somme, sleep, repose. 

Souris, smile. 

Statuaire, sculptor. 

Tour, 1. turn ; 2. lathe ; 3. able 
performance. 

Triomphe, 1. victory ; 2. hon- 
ors to a victor. 

Trompette, trumpeter. 



FEMININE. 

Pourpre, 1. Titian red dye; 

2. stuff of this color ; 3. 

dignity of a sovereign or of 

a cardinal. 
PrStexte, white robe worn in 

Rome by young patricians. 



Quelque chose, when followed 
by a verb in the subjunc- 
tive. 

Rdglisse, the licorice-tree. 

Relache, 1. on shipboard, the 
act of anchoring; 2. a harbor 
or anchorage. 

Remise, 1. act of remitting ; 2. 

discount ; 3. reprieve ; 4. 

delay, postponement. 
Satire, satire. 
Scolie, grammatical or literary 

criticism. 
Solde, military pay. 

Somme, 1. total ; 2. sum of 

money; 3. burden. 
Souris, mouse. 
Statuaire, art of sculpture. 
Tour, 1. tower; 2. rook or 

castle in chess. 
Triomphe, game of cards. 

Trompette, trumpet. 



30 



FRENCH GENDERS 



MASCULINE. 

Vague, vagueness ; vacancy. 

Vase, vase. 

Voile, 1. ladies' veil; 2. ap- 
pearance; 3. pretext; 4. 
(plural) shades, as of night. 



FEMININE. 

Vague, ocean wave. 

Vase, mud. 

Voile, 1. sail ; 2. sailing-vessel 



WOBDS HAVING TWO FEMININE EOEMS. 



Avocat, male lawyer. 

Bailleur, 

Chanteur, 

Chasseur, 

DSbiteur, 



Demandeur, 

De*fendeur, defender. 

Devineur, one who guesses. 
Devin, prophet. 



Vendeur, seller. 



Avocat, female lawyer. 

Avocate, woman who inter- 
cedes. 

Bailleresse, one who gives, bail. 

Chanteuse, one who likes to 
sing. 

Cantatrice, celebrated singer. 

Chasseuse, one who hunts. 

Chasseresse (poetical). 

D6biteuse, one who circulates 
news, etc. 

DSbitrice, debtor. 

Demandeuse, one having the 
habit of asking. 

Demanderesse, plaintiff in law. 

D£fenderesse, defendant in law. 

Devineuse, one who easily 



Devineresse, prophetess. 
C Vendeuse, seller by profession. 
J Vender esse, 1. one who occa- 
J sionally sells, by contract ; 
V 2, in law. 



FREffCff GENDERS 



31 



ALPHABETICAL CLASSIFICATION 
Of the Principal Group Members. 

(Heavy type represents masculine ; italic, feminine). 



PAGE 

-a 15 

Abstract nouns in -ion, 

-aire, -age, -iste . . 12 

-aire, in abstr. n. . . . 12 

-aison (inan. obj.) . . 12 

-ate (chem. names) . . 10 

-b 10 

Bushes 9 

-c 10 

Cardinal points ... 9 

Cities 9, 32 

-d 10 

Dates 9 

Days of month .... 9 

-6 not after t .... 10 

Empires 9 

-eur (inan. obj. and abst. 

noun) 12 

-f 10 

Female beings .... 12 

-g 10 

H (the letter itself) . . 9 

-h 9 

-iere (inan. obj.) . . . 12 

-ion (abstr. n.) . . . . 12 

-ique (inan. obj.) . . . 12 

-iste (abst. n.) . . . . 12 
-ite (names of chem. and 

min.) 10 



PAGE 

-ion (inan. obj. and abst. 

noun) 12 

-3 10 

-k 10 

Kingdoms 9 

-1 . . 10 

Languages 9 

Letters of alphabet . . 9 
-lithe on names of min- 
erals 10 

-m 12 

Male living beings . . 9 

Metals 9 

Mi without hyphen . . 10 

Mi with hyphen ... 12 

Mountains 9 

-o 10 

Occupations 9 

-oire (inan. obj.) ... 12 

-on not after i or ais . . 10 

-p 10 

Parts of speech .... 9 

Points of compass . • 9 

Provinces 9 

-q 10 

Qualities 12 

-s 10 

Seasons 9 

Semi-metals .... 9 



32 



FRENCH GENDERS 



PAGE 

Shrubs 9 

States 9 

-t 10 

-U (inan. obj. and abstr. 

nouns) 12 

Trees 9 



PAGE 

-u 10 

-v • . 10 

Virtues 12 

Winds 9 

-y 10 

-z 10 



NAMES OF CITIES. 
[Exception to Eule 8.] 

The following names of cities derived from Latin 
f eminines are considered feminine in French : Alise, 
Athenes, Bysance, Capoue, Carthage, Florence, Grenade, 
Jerusalem, Lacedemone, Lutece, Pompei, Rome, Syra- 
cuse, Thebes, Veies, Venise, etc. 

Generally, names of cities are put in the feminine 
when employed in apostrophe : as, " Malheureuse 
Tyrf" 

When the case is doubtful, prudence calls for the 
use of the words " ville de " before the name of the 
city. 



FOKMATION OF THE FEMININE. 

As a rule, in the names of persons or of animals, 
the feminine is formed from the masculine. 

1. By the addition of e ; as, Allemand, Allemande; 
ami, amie ; geant, geante. 



FRENCH GENDERS. 



33 



2. By changing -e or -e into -esse ; as, abbe, ab- 
besse ; comte, comtesse ; tigre, tigresse. 

3. By changing -teur into -trlee or -teuse ; as, 
acteur, aetrice; conducteur, conductrice; acheteur, 
acheteuse ; frotteur, frotteuse. (Some nouns have 
two different forms of feminine, according to the 
meaning; a table of these is given on page 30). 

4. By changing -en into -enne ; as Bresilien, Bresi- 
lienne ; chien, chienne; musicien, musicienne. 

A list of words in which the feminine has an en- 
tirely distinct form from the masculine is here given. 



Belier 


brebis 


Bceuf 


vache 


Cerf 


biche 


Coq 


poule 


Dieu 


deesse 


Frere 


soeur 


Garqon 


fille 


Gendre 


bru 


Homme 


femme 


Jars 


oie 


Lievre 


hase 


Male 


femelle 


L 


of a- 



Mari 


femme 


Monsieur 


madame 


Neveu 


niece 


Oncle 


tante 


Papa 


maman 


Parrain 


marraine 


Pere 


mere 


Pigeon 


colombe 


Roi 


reine 


Sanglier 


late 


Singe 


guenon 


Xaureau 


vache 



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